Theaters Have a Les Miserables, Yet Profitable, Christmas Day

For many, Dec. 25 is a day of family, togetherness and exchanging gifts. For others, it’s a great day to go to the movies. Hollywood knows this and even scheduled the premiere of a pair of highly anticipated films: Les Misérables and Django Unchained.

Les Misérables wound up doing the best of the Christmas bunch, opening in North America to the tune of $18 million. The film is based on a 1980 stage musical, which is itself based on Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel. Tom Hooper directed the adaptation, which stars Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe, Amdanda Seyfried, Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen.

Meanwhile, Quentin Tarantino’s Django marked the director’s return to film after the Oscar-nominated Inglourious Basterds. The bloody Western came in at a strong second, earning $15.5 million. The Weinstein Company film stars Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio and a host of other recognizable faces.

Meanwhile, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey made another $10.8 million, Parental Guidance, which also opened on Christmas, took in $7 million, and Jack Reacher pulled in $5.1 million. There won’t be any more big openings this week, so expect a line-up much like this one to round out the week at the box office.